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South Willamette Neighbors

"Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky.

They are people who say, 'This is my community

and it is my responsibility to make it better.'"

- Tom McCall, former Governor of Oregon

WELCOME to our website created and maintained by neighborhood volunteers to share information and express our concerns about the proposed South Willamette Special Area Zone (SW-SAZ).

UPDATE: On May 9, 2016, the City Council of the City of Eugene voted unanimously to withdraw the complex plan known as the South Willamette Special Area Zone (SW-SAZ) and all of the land use applications associated with the plan.

In late May of 2015, the City of Eugene Planning Division had proposed major land use changes in South Eugene that would have greatly increased density by rezoning 474 properties on 122 acres around South Willamette Street between 22nd and 33rd Avenues and along 29th Avenue from Lincoln to Amazon Parkway.

This complex plan would have rezoned 229 single-family homes currently zoned R-1 (Low Density Residential) to higher densities and allowed five, seven, and eight stories next to existing single-family homes.

The proposed building heights and increased densities would have fundamentally changed the neighborhood we live in. It would have led to highly congested traffic on Willamette and 29th, forcing drivers onto neighborhood streets, and limiting access to Willamette businesses. Parking would have become almost impossible and would have spilled over into neighborhood streets.The area’s mix of affordable housing would have been lost to high-end apartments and condos.Tall buildings would have blocked views of Spencer Butte and many yards and gardens would have lost sunshine.

Public testimony regarding may be presented in a scheduled Public Forum during a City Council meeting. This is one of the opportunities for citizens to be heard and to have your comments recorded. Public testimony is usually limited to three minutes or less and it is regulated by Council meeting rules.

Public testimony about a topic is permitted when that topic is not on the agenda. Check our calendar to see when the next and future Eugene City Council Public Forums are scheduled.

We learned about the City of Eugene's planning process at the city's recently overhauled website promoting the SW-SAZ plan here. And we studied the documents associated with SW-SAZ posted on our website on the Documents page.

WE SENT COMMENTS, WROTE ARTICLES, AND LETTERS TO THE EDITORS OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

THAT WERE ALSO ADDED TO "THE PUBLIC HEARING RECORD FOR THE SOUTH WILLAMETTE SPECIAL AREA ZONE" (SEE EXAMPLES AT In the News)

To make sure your comments are part of the public record, send a copy of your email or letter to city planner Jennifer Knapp with a statement requesting to place it on the "Public Hearing Record for the South Willamette Special Area Zone." Statements will be accepted until the date of the Public Hearing on the SW-SAZ Ordinance.